Menetia alanae, also known commonly as Alana's menetia and the Top End dwarf skink, is a species of lizard in the family Scincidae. The species is endemic to Australia.

Menetia alanae
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Family: Scincidae
Genus: Menetia
Species:
M. alanae
Binomial name
Menetia alanae
Rankin, 1979

Etymology edit

The specific name, alanae (genitive, feminine) is in honor of Australian herpetologist Alana Young.[2]

Geographic range edit

M. alanae is found in Northern Territory in Australia.[3]

Habitat edit

The preferred natural habitats of M. alanae are forest and savanna.[1]

Description edit

M. alanae is a small, long-tailed skink. It may attain a snout-to-vent length (SVL) of 29 mm (1.1 in). The tail is 1.3 times SVL.[4]

Reproduction edit

M. alanae is oviparous.[3]

References edit

  1. ^ a b Cogger, H.; Fenner, A.; McDonald, P. (2018). "Menetia alanae". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2018: e.T109480140A109480149. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2018-1.RLTS.T109480140A109480149.en. Retrieved 19 November 2021.
  2. ^ Beolens B, Watkins M, Grayson M (2011). The Eponym Dictionary of Reptiles. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. xiii + 296 pp. ISBN 978-1-4214-0135-5. (Menetia alanae, p. 3).
  3. ^ a b Menetia alanae at the Reptarium.cz Reptile Database. Accessed 22 September 2019.
  4. ^ Rankin (1979).

Further reading edit

  • Cogger HG (2014). Reptiles and Amphibians of Australia, Seventh Edition. Clayton, Victoria, Australia: CSIRO Publishing. xxx + 1,033 pp. ISBN 978-0643100350.
  • Rankin PR (1979). "A taxonomic revision of the genus Menetia (Lacertilia, Scincidae) in the Northern Territory". Records of the Australian Museum 32 (14): 491–499. (Menetia alanae, new species, pp. 492–493 + Figures 1–3).
  • Wilson S, Swan G (2013). A Complete Guide to Reptiles of Australia, Fourth Edition. Sydney: New Holland Publishers. 522 pp. ISBN 978-1921517280.